THE LATE GALE-ENQUIRY.

Thames Star, Volume III, Issue 1690, 3 June 1874, Page 2

THE LATE GALE-ENQUIRY.

An enquiry was held at the Custom IJouse this morning into the cause of the 'damage done to several coasting vessels. during the late gale, before Mr. H, F. Andrews, Collector of Customs, and Captain Butt.

Charles Curtis, sworn, said —I remenv ber Sunday afternoon last. I am the pjroi>rietor of the wharf known as Curtis' Wharf. About 4 o'clock I went doiwn the wharf and the George had just come alongside, on the north side. pJhe veisel had no chain or anchor^r She bumped along the wharf, for la considerable time. There was no one" on board. I and a boatman endeavored to lash the wharf I so that if the vessel did cut through (W,e could could save tbe timbers. Sh? would go through. ' If there had been any one on board material assistance could have been rendered. About 60 feet of the wharf is broken away,' iand 60 feet damagpd. If any one had been on board the damage woula not have been so serious. In reference to the Lady Bath, Mr. Curtis deposed—The lady Kathi cutter drifted alongside the, wharf about o'clock. There was one, than on board)" and the; k vessel had ah auebajr out. She went right through the wharf, carrying away about 45 feet of it, and damaging about 30 feet. The cutter Sydney; drifted alongside alo it 7 o!clock. -.-.-I think thir.'e was some one abr ard, but I could not get to her. She dragged along about 90 feet pnd went through the wharf, carrying away arid damaging 145 feet. ■ ''* , Samuel Tillerj gworn deposed. lam a mariner, ;> I remember Sunday last.; J was on Curtis' wharf between five and si* o'clock when the iGeorge cutter drifted alongside from the force of the wind. So far as I could see, she had nb chain "or anchor." There : was no one on board. The George is a boat of 14 tons. There was about 9,000 ft. of timber oh board her. The yessel broke through the wharf and drifted jup : jfco ; the :mangroves\ in the :Kauae*atfga Greefe.i' Th^ w^nd: was abpijt Jf.W., blowing hard and a Vflood" tide, about threequarterg full; v;£ i Peter Harald, master of the cutter Sydney, deposed.—The cutter Sydney belongs to Captain Pouter and Antonio Fernandez. I came across from the Miranda .on Sunday morning last in ballast, £ anchored to;,the .north • of";Curtisu yharf, with tjie 'intehtion of having her .repaired," Tlhj wind v/as very rough. T had one anchor down witn chain cable. I went on shore and left my, mate in, charge. Before leaving the vessel, IJgaye orde_rs s to let go the second anchor if" the wind increased. The gecond anchor was let go, but in doing it! the chain* fouled phe ftock. TKe vessel then clrovc down "on" fo tl'ie wharf wUeu my mate jumiied out of the, vessel on to ! the wharf to save his life. In my opinion

the grrund off Grahamstown is bad holding ground in consequence •f J .the silt coming down from the batteries. 'The weather was very threatening an Saturday. The vessel is only Blightly damaged.' Tlie decision of the Coart was that the vessels, Sydney and < Lady Eath were stranded, by ,their anchors dragging in bad holding ground, and by io dragging caused material damage io Curtis' Wharf. There appears to be no blame attached to the Arsons-mr charge, so fttr/a»ther evidence adduced shows, and the masters are acquitted of all blame. That the enquiry into the-stranding of the cutter "George be adjourned until the evidence of the person in charge of the vessel can-be obtaned.

The enquiry wrs then adjourned.